RIGHT: Greg Koch, co-founder of Stone Brewing Co., won the California Dreamer award from Visit California on February 23. The Escondido business is also opening a new Stone Brewing restaurant in Berlin.
Visit California presented the California Dreamer Award, presented to individuals who truly embody the California spirit, to Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing, the Escondido-based company and leader in the craft beer revolution.
“Mr. Koch’s innovation, passion, and business savvy has elevated the visibility of California’s craft beer industry around the world,” said Caroline Beteta President of Visit California.
“With Stone’s new international expansion efforts in Germany, Mr. Koch is a reminder that you can accomplish anything when you dream big in California,” he added.
“With such an impressive slate of past Poppy award winners, I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive this year’s California Dreamer award,” Koch said.
He remembered discovering the classic California beer Anchor Steam in the late 1980s. It was the start of a career.
“It was a true epiphany. Since that time, my passion for California’s craft beer community and the tourism surrounding our industry has only grown,” he said.
He also said he was proud to be able to spread the reputation of California craft beer to Europe.
His company will open Stone Brewing Berlin this spring.
He exclaimed: “All of our accomplishments at Stone wouldn’t be possible without support from our fans and incredible team. Cheers to all the supporters of true California craft beer!”
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